Gwalior, Dec 11: Tibetans living-in-exile offered special prayers here on the 18th anniversary of the Dalai Lama being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.

The Dalai Lama was conferred the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989 for his non-violent drive to free Tibet from Chinese occupation.

Tibetans held special prayers in Gwalior city for the Dalai Lama, after which they also distributed food to the people.

“On December 10, 1989, the Dalai Lama was awarded with the Nobel Peace Prize in Norway. Since then all the Tibetans celebrate the day every year with great joy and festivity, " said Tenzin Shadon, a Tibetan living-in-exile.

The Buddhist spiritual leader set up his seat of power in Dharamsala after he and his followers fled to India in 1959, nine years after China occupied Tibet.

While emissaries of the Dalai Lama have been unable to break ice with China during negotiations on his demands for "autonomy" for Tibet, Beijing has accused the 72-year old Tibetan Buddhist spiritual leader of orchestrating anti-China activities. (ANI)